Gaultheria plant named &#39;Gaulbri1&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of Gaultheria procumbens plant named ‘Gaulbri1’ that is characterized by its foliage that is variegated with green centers and margins that are white to pink in color with some sectional variegation that is white, light green, pink and dark green in color, and its berries that are pink in color when young and turn red in color when they mature.

Botanical classification: Gaultheria procumbens.

Cultivar designation: ‘Gaulbri1’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofGaultheria procumbens, known as Gaultheria ‘Gaulbri1’ and is hereinafterreferred to by its cultivar name ‘Gaulbri1’.

‘Gaulbri1’ was found as a natually-occuring variegated mutation of anunnamed and unpatented plant of Gaultheria procumbens by the Inventorthat was growing in a container in a production block at a nusery inElma, Wash. in spring of 2015.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by tissueculture using meristemac tissue under the direction of the Inventor inElma, Wash. in July of 2015. Asexual propagation of the new cultivar bytissue culture has shown that the unique features are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combinationdistinguish ‘Gaulbri1’ as a new and unique cultivar of Gaultheria.

-   -   1. ‘Gaulbri1’ exhibits foliage that is variegated with green        centers and margins that are white to pink in color with some        sectional variegation that is white, light green, pink and dark        green in color.    -   2. ‘Gaulbri1’ exhibits berries that are pink in color when young        and turn red in color when they mature.

The parent plant of ‘Gaulbri1’ is similar to ‘Gaulbri1’ in flower andberry color, but differs from ‘Gaulbri1’ in having leaves that are soliddark green in color. ‘Gaulbri1’ can be most closely compared toGaultheria procumbens cultivars ‘Gaulsidh11’ (U.S. Plant patentapplication Ser. No. 15/330,620)* and ‘Gaulsidh5’ (U.S. Plant patentapplication Ser. No. 15/330,619)*. Both are similar to ‘Gaulbri1’ inplant habit and in having flowers that are white in color and matureberries that are red in color. ‘Gaulsidh11’ differs from ‘Gaulbri1’ inhaving leaves that are solid dark green in color nd a higher berry set.‘Gaulsidh5’ differs from ‘Gaulbri1’ in having larger berries and leavesthat are solid green in color. * Examiner has permission to replace theU.S. Plant Patent Application Nos. with U.S Plant Patent Nos. and deletethis statement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceand distinct characteristics of the new Gaultheria. The photographs weretaken of a plant 2 years in age as grown in a poly greenhouse in Elma,Wash.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a side view of ‘Gaulbri1’ in fruit.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of the fruit andfoliage of ‘Gaulbri1’. The colors in the photographs may differ slightlyfrom the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, whichaccurately describe the colors of the new Gaultheria.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of 2.5-year-old plants of thenew cultivar grown outdoors in 1-gallon containers in St. Thomas,Ontario, Canada. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary withvariations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as ithas not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. Thecolor determination is in accordance with the 2007 R.H.S. Colour Chartof the Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except wheregeneral color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:    -   -   Blooming period.—Four to six weeks from late spring to late            summer in Ontario, Canada.        -   Plant type.—Evergreen shrub.        -   Plant habit.—Broadly spreading groundcover once established.        -   Height and spread.—An average of 15 cm in height and 30 cm            in width.        -   Hardiness.—At least in U.S.D.A. Zones 3 to 8.        -   Diseases and pests.—No resistance or susceptibility to            diseases or pests has been observed.        -   Propagation.—Tissue culture.        -   Root development.—2 to 3 weeks to initiate roots in tissue            culture, an average of 12 months to fully root in a liner.        -   Growth rate and vigor.—Moderate.-   Stem description:    -   -   Shape.—Round.        -   Stem color.—New stem; 60A, mature; 146D suffused with 185C            to 185D.        -   Stem size.—An average of 8.7 cm in length and 1 mm in width.        -   Stem surface.—Young stems moderately glossy.        -   Stem strength.—Medium.        -   Branching.—Freely branched, an average of 14 basal branches.        -   Branch angle.—Upright to outward.        -   Branch internode length.—Up to 4 mm.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf shape.—Elliptic to obovate.        -   Leaf division.—Simple.        -   Leaf base.—Cuneate.        -   Leaf apex.—Cuspidate.        -   Leaf fragrance.—Wintergreen if crushed.        -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, young leaf color; mid vein of upper            surface 144A, mid vein of lower surface 145A, mature leaf            color; mid vein of upper surface 196A and 62C towards base,            mid vein of lower surface; 148B and 51B towards base.        -   Leaf margins.—Irregularly serrate, single small hair            emerging from the tip of each tooth, up to 1 mm in length            and 166A in color.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate and clustered near tips.        -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Leaf number.—Average of 9 per branch.        -   Leaf surface.—Upper and lower surface; glabrous, dull and            leathery.        -   Leaf variegation.—Present.        -   Leaf size.—Average of 3.7 cm in length and 2.2 cm in width.        -   Leaf color.—Emerging leaves upper surface; ranging from 174A            to 166B to 164A, margins 62A to 62B, emerging leaves lower            surface, 176B, margins 62C, young leaves upper surface;            144A, flushed with 137A with some sections of 191B, young            leaves lower surface; N155B suffused with 62C to 62D, mature            leaves upper surface; 138A with random sections of N189C,            margins 158A, mature leaves lower surface; 148B, margins            158A, fall foliage; upper surface; 200A with sections of            195A, margins between 51B and 155A, lower surface; between            197A and 194A, suffused with 51C, margins between 51 B and            155A.        -   Petioles.—Average of 4.8 mm in length and 1.8 mm in width,            upper and lower surfaces are dull, color of upper and lower            surfaces; a blend of 51C and 181C.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Inflorescence.—Axillary and terminal clusters of individual            flowers.        -   Inflorescence size.—Average of 4.7 cm in length.        -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—Average of 2 weeks, self            cleaning (sepals and petals).        -   Number of flowers.—4 to 10 per flowering branch, average of            150 per plant.        -   Flower buds.—Ovate in shape, average of 4 mm in length and 3            mm in width, color NN155B suffused with 63C towards base,            satiny surface.        -   Flower size.—Average of 7 mm in length and 6 mm in width.        -   Corolla.—Urceolate in shape, comprised of 5 fused ovate            shaped petals with rounded tips (5%) free that are            moderately reflexed, free parts are 1.5 mm in length and 1            mm width, width of aperature 4 mm, color NN155B on both            surfaces, when opening and mature, both surfaces are satiny            and glabrous and very slightly ribbed on inner and outer            surfaces.        -   Calyx.—Rotate in arrangement, average of 2 mm in depth and 6            mm in diameter.        -   Sepals.—5, ovate in shape with base fused (lower 25% fused            into ring), average of about 1.5 mm in length and width,            acute apex, color 155B suffused with 62B towards base,            satiny on both surfaces.        -   Bracts.—2 small bracts, an average of 1 mm in length and            width, ovate in shape, truncate base, acute apex, glossy on            both surfaces, color 155B suffused with 62B.        -   Peduncles.—Round, curved to hang downward, an average of 7            mm in length and 1 mm in width, color 155C suffused with 62B            and 54C, pubescent surface.        -   Pedicels.—None, peduncles arise directly from stern node.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Androecium.—Stamens; average of 10, anthers; dorsifixed,            narrow deltoid in shape, 60B in color and 2 mm in length,            filaments; oblong in shape, 4 mm in length, 1 mm in width            and 155B in color, highly pubescent, pollen; moderate in            quantity and NN155C in color.        -   Gynoecium.—Pistil; 1, stigma; club-shaped, 1 mm in length            and width, 145D in color, style; average of 6 mm in length,            157D in color, ovary; round in shape, 6-parted, 2.5 mm in            diameter and depth, 145C in color.-   Fruit description:    -   -   Type.—Berry.        -   Number.—Average of 3 per lateral branch.        -   Fruit size.—Up to 9 mm in length and 10 mm in width.        -   Fruit skin color.—Young fruit; 47D, mature fruit; 45B.        -   Fruit flesh.—155B in color, glistening and spongy in            texture.        -   Fruit surface.—Glossy and glabrous.        -   Fruit shape.—Oblate with indented apex and 5 bluntly acute            extended tips, tip size is 3 mm in length and 5 mm in width.        -   Mature ovary.—Oblate in shape, dull and papery in texture,            average of 2.9 mm in length and 4.2 mm in width, persistent            style, 3 mm in length.        -   Seeds.—Approximately 28 cylindrical shaped seeds, glossy            surface, less than 1 mm in length and width, 160D in color.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Gaultheria plant named‘Gaulbri1’ as herein illustrated and described.